Tigers tripped up by Luther JV, 84-65

Thorn Compton

T-R Assistant Sports Editor

tcompton@timesrepublican.com

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON - Marshalltown Community College freshman Dana Stokes (22) works her way through a host of Luther College defenders in the Tigers’ 84-65 loss to the Norse on Thursday. Stokes led MCC with 20 points on the night.

The Marshalltown Community College women’s basketball team hit the hardwood for its second game of the new year on Wednesday night in hopes of washing the taste of an 89-33 loss to Kirkwood last Saturday out of its mouth.

While the offense functioned much better for the Tigers against the Luther College junior varsity, the defense once again was exposed as the Norse walked out of the Student Activity Center with an 84-65 victory.

MCC head coach Steve Garber chose to focus on the positives after the loss, especially with 65 points being the third-most for his squad in a game all season.

“Our goal is to score points, and that’s what we did. It was a success in that regards and I was pleased with that,” Garber said. “We are looking for people to attack, looking to get the ball inside, looking to drive and knock down threes if you’re open. We are not a very good offensive team so to score 65 points, that wa a very positive thing.”

Four girls reached double figures for the Tigers (5-11) with Dana Stokes leading the way with 20 points.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON - Marshalltown Community College freshman Laurin Lyons drives by Luther College’s Natalie Danzl for a shot in the Tigers’ 84-65 loss to the Norse on Thursday at the Student Activity Center.

Stokes has been a consistent scorer all season for MCC, as she leads the team in points per game at 11.2, but Garber said it’s important for Stokes to not be the entire focal point of the offense.

“If we get Dana involved all the time, then other people don’t build their confidence,” Garber. “It’s a team game, if one player is scoring all the points you’re not going to be a very good team. We have to work on our team play and have everybody contribute and have everybody feel like they have to contribute to build up their confidence. Everybody contributed tonight, we got inside play and a little bit of outside play so I was pleased.”

Danielle Smith followed Stokes with 12 points, and she went for a double-double with 10 rebounds. Laurin Lyons and Anna Jaumandreu were the other two Tigers in double figures with 11 points each.

While the offense did its job, MCC struggled on the defensive end all night. The Norse (2-2) went 15-for-37 from behind the 3-point line and they forced 21 turnovers that led to 18 points.

Katie Evans led Luther with 22 points and was 6-for-12 from the 3-point line, and Jenna Uphoff had 21 points while going 5-for-10 from behind the arc for the Norse.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

In the third quarter, the Tigers had reduced a nine-point halftime lead for Luther to just a two-point disadvantage at 48-46, but from that point until the end of the frame the Norse outscored MCC 17-7 to take a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Garber said Luther was able to lengthen its lead again because of his team’s inability to guard the 3-point line.

“It was not recognizing shooters, and we were poor at that tonight, very poor on the defensive end of not identifying their shooters and getting out,” he said. “Our team’s really not that smart to figure that out, they have to be told some things over and over and over again. It’s one of those things with JV teams, you can’t scout them really, so it was just a matter of trying to make the adjustment as the game was going along and going from there.”

The Tigers have a quick turnaround with a home game against John Wood Community College on Saturday, and they start Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Division I play later this month.

Garber said his girls just have to get better in practice to improve their chances at competing down the stretch of the season.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

“Every day we have to get better. We have another month and a half here, and every day we have to identify what we need to work on,” he said. “We know what we have to work on, it’s them getting it, and either they get it or they don’t. We have to keep on emphasizing what they need to do better and it’s up to them.”

MCC and John Wood will tip off at 5 p.m. at the Student Activity Center on Saturday.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON – Marshalltown Community College freshman Laurin Lyons drives by Luther College’s Natalie Danzl for a shot in the Tigers’ 84-65 loss to the Norse on Thursday at the Student Activity Center.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON – Marshalltown Community College freshman Dana Stokes (22) works her way through a host of Luther College defenders in the Tigers’ 84-65 loss to the Norse on Thursday. Stokes led MCC with 20 points on the night.